I knew an odd girl {An eremika au}

XXV

XXV: Trauma
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you were to tell Eren that his older step brother were to return back home after years of him being away, he would call you crazy and brush it off. But as Zeke stood before him, Eren couldn't do anything but stare at the tall and well built man in front of him. Sure, he had told Mikasa that his step brother had gone on a business trip but heaven knows that that was a lie. To be honest, Eren thought Zeke was dead, dead as hell. Only a few weeks after their parents death had Zeke disappeared, leaving Eren all alone in darkness. Oh Eren knew that Zeke knew how broken Eren was after their parents death but still didn't think that maybe he just needed someone with him, its almost as if he really didn't care enough to stay by his side.

That bastard

He had changed, physically; He had definitely grown taller, he had a full beard, a more defined jaw line, broad shoulders and a new pair of  glasses that rested on the bridge of his nose. He wore a beige coat ended just above his knees, a white buttoned up shirt, brown pants and black formal shoes.

But Eren saw more than that. He looked  exhausted, his eyes almost lifeless and dull, it had lost its luster and looked empty as he looked into them. And the more Eren looked at him, the more the anger boiled, the anger and frustration grew bigger as seconds passed, threatening to burst and demolish the very vessel that contained it. He shot a hostile glare at Zeke before finally speaking.

"What the hell are you doing here?"- Eren managed to get out as he gritted his teeth.

Zeke didn't mind the glare he was receiving from his kid brother. Instead, he just forced a weak smile. Eren was confused. The boiling anger in him was dying down slowly until it was out completely, allowing sadness to consume him whole.

"Why would you leave?"- Eren weakly asked and both him and Zeke could hear the quiver in his voice.

"I didn't mean to."- He said

"You didn't mean to?"- Eren asked now getting frustrated. If Zeke wanted forgiveness, then Eren wouldn't give it to him that easily, atleast thats what Eren thought.

"I'm sorry for leaving you behind brother."

Zeke started and Eren was about to crack. The only other family member Eren had was standing right infront of him and Eren held himself back from breaking down right infront of him.

"I'm sorry for disappearing without an explanation that I know you deserved. But I can explain everything if you are willing to hear me out."- Zeke finished and after some time, Eren slowly nodded, opening the door a bit wider to allow him to walk in.

Zeke took in a sharp breath, the house Eren was living in looked so much alike to the one where the four of them used to live in in Shingashina. The memories were flooding his mind as he looked at a cedar couch and remembered how his father and mother would sit on their couch back in their home in Shingashina late at night and would talk and joke about almost anything. They were truly in love, until his mom had died from battling a life long disease and his dad had saw fit to remarry. He never liked Carla anyways, she would have never been his real mom.

He slowly sat on one of the couches and deeply sighed. He removed his glasses and set them down on the glass table in the middle of the living room. Eren was standing behind a different chair that was facing Zeke and asked,

"Would you like anything to drink?"

He was angry but he has to be polite, thats what his mom had taught him anyways.

Zeke shook his head, "No no, thats okay, I'm alright."

Eren nodded and sat down, facing Zeke and waited for him to explain. Zeke looked at him before resting his elbows on his knees and leaned forward.